Special Report on Diseases of the HorseUnited States. Bureau of Animal Industry
Science
Special Report on Diseases of the Horse
United States. Bureau of Animal Industry
Horses -- Diseases
not too bulky feed, good ventilation, clean stabling, moderate exercise
if the animal is capable of taking it, good grooming, etc., should be
observed in all cases.
SPINAL MENINGITIS, OR INFLAMMATION OF THE MEMBRANES ENVELOPING THE
SPINAL CORD.
This may be induced by the irritant properties of blood poisons,
exhaustion and exposure, spinal concussion, all forms of injury to the
spine, tumors, caries of the vertebrae, rheumatism, etc.
_Symptoms._--A chill may be the precursor, a rise in temperature, or a
general weakness and shifting of the legs. Soon a painful, convulsive
twitching of the muscles sets in, followed by muscular rigidity along
the spine, in which condition the animal will move very stiffly and
evince great pain in turning. Evidences of paralysis or paraplegia
develop, retention or incontinence of urine, and oftentimes sexual
excitement is present. The presence of marked fever at the beginning of
the attack, associated with spinal symptoms, should lead us to suspect
spinal meningitis or myelitis. These two conditions usually appear
together, or myelitis follows inflammation of the meninges so closely
that it is almost impossible to separate the two; practically it does
not matter much, for the treatment will be about the same in both cases.
Spinal meningitis generally becomes chronic, and is then marked
principally by paralysis of that portion, or parts of it, posterior to
the seat of the disease.
_Pathology._--In spinal meningitis we find essentially the same
condition as in cerebral meningitis; there is an effusion of serum
between the membranes, and often a plastic exudation firmly adherent to
the pia mater serves to maintain a state of paralysis for a long time
after the acute symptoms have disappeared by compressing the cord.
Finally, atrophy, softening, and even abscess may develop within the
cord. Unlike in man, it is usually found localized in horses.
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